The Death of Death

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” – 1 Corinthians 15:26

In 1 Corinthians 15, after describing how Jesus will destroy every rule, authority, and power, reigning “until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (v. 25), the Bible says that the last of these enemies will be destroyed is death. Death is an enemy, but it has been defeated for the Christian by Jesus. Jesus has destroyed death through death.

Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Jesus had to willingly “humble himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8) so that He could defeat death. Because He has triumphed over it through His resurrection, Jesus will destroy death, the last enemy. 

Isaiah 25:8: He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, because He will destroy this enemy, we can claim the victory Jesus offers and join Paul in taunting death: “‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54b-57). Jesus, our risen Lord, has taken the sting out of death and subdued every enemy – all sin, all evil, all suffering – under His feet. 

I would like to share a quote from Tim Challies in his book Seasons of Sorrow. In 2020, Tim Challies tragically lost his son at the age of 20, and he wrote this book as he reflected upon his son’s death. In this book, Tim details how he mourned, the events surrounding and following this horrible loss, but also the hope we have even in the face of death because of Jesus’ resurrection. Tim writes this:

“Indeed, the Bible describes Death as the final enemy, and though it will be last to fall, its time will certainly come. The death of Death has already been guaranteed by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its final day and hour have already been fixed in the mind of God, and it now simply awaits the moment of his choosing. As one little word shall fully and finally end the reign of Satan, so too the reign of Death. Death, we learn, is a defeated adversary, a flaccid foe, a chained enemy who can go not one step farther than God allows…

Death, though you may think you are a master, you are but a servant. Though you may think you are mighty, you have only the limited shreds of power that God has granted you. Though you may think you are scary, I laugh in your face. You may be convinced that because you have walked this earth since the days of the garden, you will walk it forever, but listen, and you will hear that the clock is ticking; look, and you will see that the sands of time are sinking; think, and you will know that your doom is fast approaching. For to the same degree that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ guaranteed the lives of those he loves, it guaranteed your demise.

And on that day, not one will mourn, not one will weep, not one will shed a single tear for you. To the contrary, we will sing, we will celebrate, we will party and rejoice, we will dance upon your grave. Death, raise your chin and look me in the eye as I say it: You did Jesus no harm, you can do me no harm, and you did my [son] no harm. Death, be not proud, for one short sleep past, we wake eternally, and you shall be no more. Death, you shall die!”